Spotlight on Dick Farrellythe composer of one of Josef's most popular songs, 'The Isle
of Innisfree'

The following information was supplied by Dick's son
Gerard, who with singer Sinéad Stone released a CD of the composer's songs
in 2004 entitled 'Legacy of a Quiet Man'.

Richard Farrelly (1916 -1990), known to his
family and friends as Dick, was born in Kells, County Meath. His parents
were publicans who owned a bar in the town. He learned to play the piano as
a young boy and was writing songs and poetry by the time he reached his
teens. At the age of twenty-three Dick joined the Irish Police Force, the
Garda Síochána, and served for thirty-eight years in the force.

Dick Farrelly was a gentle and quiet man, who rarely sought notoriety or
publicity for his musical creations. Hence, the CD's title "Legacy Of A
Quiet Man" refers to his association with the film, The Quiet Man, but more
so to the unassuming personality and creativity of Dick, who penned more
than two hundred songs and poems in his lifetime. Songs like Seolta Bána &
Siobhán, were just two little gems, which we found amongst a bundle of
manuscripts in an old suitcase belonging to him.

In 1948, Dick had his first big success with If You Ever Fall in Love Again.
The song was a hit for Anne Shelton in the UK, and for Guy Lombardo & His
Orchestra in the US. He had several successful songs during the fifties,
amongst them, his lovely ballad, Cottage by the Lee, popularised by Joe
Lynch, and The Rose of Slievenamon, recorded by Josef Locke.
However, the song for which Dick is best remembered is of course, The Isle
of Innisfree.

The
inspiration for the song came to Dick whilst on a bus journey from his
native Kells to Dublin, and by the time he reached his destination, the
words and music of The Isle of Innisfree were complete. Before going to bed
that night he put the song down safely on manuscript. In Dick’s own words,
"I used Isle of Innisfree as another name for Ireland, and it was Ireland I
had in mind when I wrote the song". With poignant words the song expresses
the longing of an Irish emigrant for their native land. The Isle of
Innisfree was a huge international hit for Bing Crosby in 1952, giving
Crosby his biggest chart success in the UK. Dublin band leaders voted it
their number one tune of the year and it is interesting to note that it sold
over 150,000 thousand copies in sheet music format in Ireland and the UK
alone.

Film director John Ford was so taken by The Isle of Innisfree that he
decided to use it as the principle musical theme of The Quiet Man. The
melody almost totally dominates the soundtrack, being reprised at least
eleven times. It is first heard as the credits roll, with a beautiful scene
of Lough Corrib and Ashford Castle in the background at sunset. The melody
becomes the love theme for Sean Thornton (John Wayne) and Mary Kate (Maureen
O’Hara), and is wonderfully orchestrated by Victor Young.

To quote author, Prof. Des MacHale, in his book, "The Complete Guide to the
Quiet Man",
"Its lush tone is fairy music, released from another world by the genius of
Richard Farrelly. Sadly, he received no mention in the screen credits for
the vital contribution he made to the movie, but The Quiet Man wouldn’t have
been half the movie it was without The Isle of Innisfree".

In 1982, Stephen Spielberg included it in his film ET, when a scene from The
Quiet Man is shown, and Innisfree is also used in the soundtrack of the
film, Distant Voices Still Lives (1988). The Isle of Innisfree has been
recorded hundreds of times worldwide and continues to enrich the repertoires
of innumerable artistes, but above all, it endures in the hearts of many to
this day as one of the great songs of Ireland.

Dick wrote We Dreamed our Dreams just a few years before he died, and it was
one of his personal favourites. The Fureys & Davey Arthur, made the first
recording of it on an album entitled, The Scattering, released in1988.

We spent many enjoyable hours sifting through Dick’s manuscripts and songs,
some of which were jotted down on the backs of envelopes and bits of
notepaper. We had difficulty in choosing eleven of our favourites for this
album, some of which are recorded here for the first time.